Brake-handle cap



(No Model.)

IJ. DE MOULIN. l BRAKE HANDLE GAP.

y mNo. 558,899. Patented Apr. 21,y 1896.

' Nrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DE MOULIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ISABELLA L. TAYLOR, OF SOIIOI-IARIE, NEW

YORK.

BRAKE-HANDLE CAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,899, dated April 21, 1896.

Application filed August 4, 1894:.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DE MOULIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brake-Handle Caps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of a blank from which my improved brake -handle cap is formed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a mandrehupon which the cap is given its shape. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the completed cap 5 and Fig. 4L is a cross-sectional view through the same near its lower end, showing the manner of introducing the elastic band.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in caps or covers for brakehandles which are designed for use by operators of hand-brakes to save the hand or glove of the operator from frictional contact with the brake-handle- The object of the invention is to produce a cap or cover, as above described, which is simple, easily made, and readily detached or adjusted, said cap revolving on the handle freely when the same is operated.

The essential features of this invention reside in making the cap of a single blank and from one piece; also in introducing in the depending free ends or lobes a band or strap, which passes through the lobes in such manner that but very little of the band is exposed to the interior, where it might be worn by frictional contact with the brake-handle.

In the drawings, Aindicates the blank from which my improved cap is formed, the same consisting substantially of two halves connected at their ends, so as to form a solid top or crown when the article is finished. This blank after being so formed is placed upon a suitable mandrel B, whose contour is of the desired shape for the interior of the cap, the connecting portion of the two halves being substantially at the top of the mandrel. The

Serial No. 519,444. (No model.)

blank is now shaped as near as possible to inclose the entire mandrel, and for a short distance along the contiguous upper edges the edges of the blank are joined together by stitches, staples, or rivets, as at C, or adhesive material, as may be desired, to retain the shape of the cap after removal from the mandrel. In order to make a smooth inner face, I preferably wet the material composing the cap and hammer the same to the shape of the mandrel, upon which it remains until dried. The lower free ends or lobes are preferably shaped by breaking the leather on the outside with the sharp edge of a hammer, which causes the ends of the lobes to retain their outwardly-curved shape, as shown in Fig. 3. Just above this curved portion the lobes are cut or slitted, preferably obliquely, as shown in Fig. 4, and through these cuts or openings (of which four are shown) I thread a band or strap D and join the ends thereof in any suitable manner. This band is preferably formed of elastic tape, which will expand, permitting the lobes to spread and the head of the brake-handle to be inserted, after which, by contraction of the band, the lobes are drawn together around the neck of the handle to hold the cap in place.

I have shown in the drawings the cap made of a single piece of material, making the crown of the same solid 5 but it is obvious that the cap could be made of two pieces and the seam extend clear across its crown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A cap for brake-handles formed of a single blank, the crown being solid, with seams at the sides, the lobes being free and independent of each other, and a band connecting said lobes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of July, 1894.

- J OIIN DE MOULIN.

Witnesses:

F. R. CORNWALL, HUGH K. WAGNER. 

